Water softener



July 1, 1958 R. L. ABOS ETAL WATER SOFTENER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April14, 1955 INVENTOR5 July 1, 1958 R. 1.. ABOS ET A1.

WATER SOFTENER Filed April 14, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 mwmmm QQRAQ wEFMOA/ 4. 4505 6/924 4 fifl/JWE INVENTOR5 July 1, 1958 R. L. ABOS ETALWATER SOFTENER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed .April 14, 1955 6 5 m M MW: a 4%}mmm 4 3 l I Ell f u \\AE 1! 7/.

July 1, 1958 R. L. ABOS ETAL WATER SOFTENER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April14, 1955 Q g 5 w 5 4 flan 5.

Fatentecl July 1, 1958 ice wArnn sorrnrsnn Ralph L. Abos, Ramon L Aims,and tCarl A. Stuewe, Whittier, Calif.

Application April 3.4, 1955, Serial No. $31,34

lfllairn. (Cl. 210-278) This invention relates to improvements in watersoften- GIS- An object of the invention 'is to provide a relativelysimple, compact water softener that can be connected to a hard watersource of supply and which will deliver softened water. The watersoftener embodying the present invention is particularly useful insoftening water that is delivered to washers of various kinds, such as,clothes washers, dishwashers, and the like, but may be used for otherand similar purposes.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a watersoftener consisting of a tank having a hard water inlet and a soft wateroutlet with the tube exten ing downwardly into the tank having a filteror strainer at its bottom between the tube and the tank. Ion exchangeresins, artificial or natural zeolites, or the like can be positioned inthe tank about the tube. The tube is connectable at its upper end to thesoft water outlet so that in the normal course of operation the hardwater is caused to pass downwardly through the tank and through the ionexchange resins, then through the strainer and upwardly through the tubeto the soft water outlet.

It is well known in water softeners that the ion exchange resins must beregenerated from time to time and salt brine is generally used for thispurpose the pres r. invention, however, includes a removable or cpenasleclosure at the top of the tube whereby salt in solid condition can beplaced in the tube and water how in a reverse direction can be caused totake place. In this reverse direction, incoming hard water is caused toflow downwardly through the tube and to dissolve the solid salt beforepassing through the filter or strainer. The salt solution is then causedto pass upwardly through the ion exchange resins to regenerate them andto a drain. In this manner the use of a brine tank or a previouslyprepared brine can be avoided.

The drain from the water softener during such regeneration is frequentlylocated at a higher level than the top of the water softener itself.Thus, the drain hose from the water softener may be hooked over the edgeof a laundry tub, which edge is higher than the top of the Watersoftener. If this occurs and the drain hose is filled with liquid, thestatic head of water in the drain may be such as to cause water in thetube to overflow from its top when the closure at the top of the tube isremoved or opened for the purpose of introducing the salt. It is,therefore, a further object of the invention to provide a water softenerhaving the above-mentioned characteristics wherein a three-way controlvalve is used which in one position will cause normal flow to take placefrom the hard water inlet to the water soils to the soft water outlet;another position wherein fiow ill take place from the hard water inletthrough the water softener in a reverse direction to the drain; and athird position wherein a jetting or siphoning action is induced by flowfrom the hard water inlet to the drain so that the level of water in thetube can be artificially depressed or lowered when the closure at thetop of the tube is removed for the purpose of introducing the salt. Inthis manner, overflow from the top of the tube during the period thatthe salt is introduced can be completely eliminated.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be mademanifest in the following detailed descrip tion and specifically pointedout in the appended claim, reference is had to the accompanying drawingsfor illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the water softener, embodyingthe present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the line Fig. 1,portions of the tank and tube being shown as having been broken away andremoved;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 3-3upon Fig. 2, and showing the three-way valve in that position for normaloperation;

Pig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating the valve in thatposition wherein siphoning action is developed in the drain for thepurpose of depressing or lowering the water level in the tube uponopening the closure at the top of the tube for the purpose ofintroducing the salt;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 55 uponFig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section illustrating the water softener in thatcondition wherein the closure at the top of the tube has been removedfor the purpose of introducing the salt and illustrating the water leveltherein as having been depressed by the siphoning action;

Pig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating the valve in thatposition wherein reverse flow through the water softener is taking placefor the purpose of dissolving the salt and regenerating the ion exchangeresins; and

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 8-8upon Fig. 7.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar referencecharacters designate similar parts throughout, the improved watersoftener comprises a tank it having a cap or upper head 11 removablymounted thereon, such as by a threaded connection therewith indicated at12. On the top edge of the tank there is a rubber gasket or equivalentsealing means, indicated at 13, on which rests an upper filter orstrainer 14. This strainer is centrally mounted on a central boss 15formed on the underside of the cap 11, there being an external shoulderagainst which the strainer is positioned and against which it is held inplace, such as by outwardly flaring or peening the metal, as at 16. Atube 1'7 has its upper end fitting within the boss 15 and extendsdownwardly within the tank 19 to a point near the bottom thereof. Thebottom of the tube 17 is equipped with a filter or strainer 18 and thisfilter or strainer preferably flares outwardly toward the walls of thetank and is equipped with a rubber gasket 19 which engages the tank.

The two strainers or filters 14 and .18 are preferably formed ofpowdered metal, such as, for example, powdered bronze. The powderedparticles of the bronze are quite small and are substantially sphericalin form. These particles are equipped with small coatings of tin and thepowder is poured in a mold, giving the powder the proper shape. Onheating the powder to a sintering temperature the tin coating functionsas a binder, binding the powder particles together, but the intersticesbetween the substantially spherical powder particles permit liquids topass therethrough with a straining or filtering action.

On the top of the cap 131 in alignment with the tube 17 there is anipple 2% externally threaded to receive a removable cap or closure 21.The cap or head 11 is also formed to provide a housing 22 fora rotaryvalve 23 which can be rotated into three optional positions by means ofa crank or handle 2 A duct 25 forms part of the valve housing and leadsto the nipple 26st the top of the tube 17. Another duct 26 is providedwith a nipple to which a hose 27 may be connected that in turn isconnected to a hard water source of supply. A duct 28 has a nipple'towhich a hose 2.9 may be connected which in turn may be connected to awasher, such as, a

clothes washer or a dishwasher. "This duct and its nipple constitute thesoft water outlet from the water. softener. IAnother duct 30 leads to anipple't'o' which a drain hose 31 is connected.- Thisjdrain hose ispreferably equipped at .its end with a U-shaped metallic nozzle 32 thatcan be hooked over, a suitable drain such as, for

example, 'a laundry tub. A duct 33 is als'o formed in the valve housingand leads to the interior of'a small section of tubing 34 that islocated within the duct 39 and which extends downwardly through thenipplethat is connected to the drain hose 31. 1 V

The rotary valve 23 has a vertical central bore SS ivhieh communicateswith'a port 36 that can be brought into registration with either'theinlet duct 26 or the drain duct 3i)- Compare Figs. 3 and 8. On theexterior of the valve 23 there isa horizontally extending groove 37which in the position shown in Fig, 3' connects duct 25 with the outletduct 28 and which in the position-shown in Fig. 8 connects the inletduct 26 with duct 25 forjthe purpose of enabling back flow or reverseflow through the water softener. Also' on the exterior of the valve 23Ethere is an angular groove, the vertical leg of-whichis indicated at38' and which is arranged between groove 31'and; port 36. This verticalleg is connected atits topwith a horizontal groove 40 which canbecaused'to register-with duct 33. In the valve there is also formed a port 39which can be caused to register with'the duct 30. Ion exchange resins,indicated at 41, are placed in the tank above the strainer or filter 18and around the tube During normal operation the valve is in the position7 V 7 shown in Figs. 2 and 3 whereinhard'water from a source a of supplyis conducted through the water softener through the hose 27. From thishose :the hardwater enters duct 26, flows through port 36 to thevertical central bore 35.

It is then caused to flow downwardly through the'filter 'or strainer-14and through the ion exchange, resins 41',-

so as to be softened thereby. The softened water then passes through thefilter or strainer 18 and upwardly through the tube 17 where it entersthe duct 25,tpasses through the groove 37 to the soft water outletprovided by duct28 and hose 29. V 7

e As previously explained, the nozzle 32 may be hooked over the edge ofa laundry tub or may be disposed atsome elevation substantially higherthan the top'of the water through the tube 17 to the bottom of the tankand the closure'cap 21 is then replaced. The valve is then turned to theposition shown in Figs. 7 and 8 wherein water supplied to the inlet duct26 is conducted through groove 37 to duct 25 and is caused to flowdownwardly through the tube 17.. This water dissolves the solid salt andthe:

brine produced by such solution flows through the strainer 18 in areverse direction and upwardly through the ion exchange resins 41,regenerating them. The brine also returned from the position shown inFig. 8 to the normal position shown in Fig. 3, wherein hard water fromthe source of supply is conducted through the valve downwardly throughthe filter orstrainer 14, the regenerated 7 ion exchange resins, thestrainer or filter 18, upwardly through tube 17 and through duct 25andgroove 37 to the soft water outlet 28. a

From the above-described construction it will be appreciated that theimproved water softener -is of relatively simple and of compact design.For regeneration purposes it is unnecessary to employ a brine tank or apreviously prepared brine. In lieu, thereof, solid salt may be pouredinto the water softener through nipple 20 and the brine created in thesoftener-itself. The solid saltis keptconfined by the strainer orfilter- 18 until it has dissolved and only then is it permitted to passthrough the ion exchange resins 41 for the purpose of regenerating. Inopening the top of nipple 20 for the; purpose of introducing the solidsalt, it is immaterial whether the drain nozzle 32 is higher or lowerthan the top ofthe'water softener in that the jettingv or aspiratingeffect created in 'the drain outlet duct 30 by the water dischargingthrough V the tubing 34 causes a siphoningaction to take place that willdepress the water level in tube 17 so that no overflow of water fromnipple 20 will occur while the salt is being poured in. In this manner,users of the water--softener can dispense with previously preparedbrines and brine 7 tanks, use salt'solid for regenerating purposes,andwhen 7 struction without departing from the spirit and scopeintroducing solid salt into the water softenerthere is no danger ofwater escaping or overflowing from the device.

Various changes may be made. in the details of conof the invention asdefined by the appended'claim.

We claim: I I e A water softener comprising a tank having a hard waterinlet, a soft water outlet and a drainoutlet, a jet tube in registrationwith the duct 36; The water which dis- 7 charges through the tubing 34has a jetting or aspirating etfect attempting to induce flow through theduct'39 and thus siphon out water that is in the tank. When the closurecap ZIis removed permitting air to enter the nipple 20 and the top ofthe'tube 17, this jetting or aspirating action is effective toartificially depress or'lower the liquid level of water' in the tube 37.In this manner, there is no danger of water overflowing the top of thenipple 2t) on removal of the cap 21, although the height of the thetopof the water illustrated 'in Fig. 6, salt in solid form can bepouredinto the nipple 20. As salt in solid form can be employed thenece'ssityof using a brine tank or preparing a brine can be avoided.'The salt in solid form settles downwardly the drain outlet, a tubeextending downwardly into the tank, a strainer between the tube andthe'tank, said tube having a removable closure at the top thereof, arotary valve controlling the inlet and the outlet, said rotary valvehavingone passage therethrough from the inlet to the interior of thetank and another passagetfrom the top of the tube to the softwateroutlet, said valve having a port adapted to connect the interior ofthe tank with the drain outlet, anda passage for connecting theinlet tothe jet tube the passage initially connecting the tube to the soft wateroutlet being also capable ofconnecting the hard water inlet to the tubein the tank.

ReferencesQited in the file of this patent a UNITED STATES PATENTS ifBraswell June 15,1954 I i

